Stretcher for uniform-cap covers



Feb. 26, 1929.

R. H. LAKE STRETCHER FOR UNIFORM CAP COVERS Filed Oct. 18, 1926 toproper size.

Patented Feb. 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES:

ROBERT H. LAKE, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA.

STRETCHER non UNIFoRMcA'P oovnn'sj Application filed October 18, 1926.Serial No. 142,516..

This invention relates to improved means for stretching signed for usewith what are known as uniform cap covers.

Cap covers which are used by military and naval forces as covers foruniform caps are made of duck or like material, which shrinks whenwashed, and is therefore diflicult to be properly positioned uponuniform caps.

Such caps include a bandportion and a crown or hell portion and thesemust be stretched alike at the same time. The stretching device must beinserted into the cap through the relatively small band portion and thenexpanded to stretch both band andhell I have, therefore, provided a unitstretcher which may be collapsed and readily inserted through the bandand into the bell portion of the cap or cap .cover, as the case may be,and have oined the expanding portions with a suitable linking, expandingand locking means.

lVhile cap blocks have been used, these are ordinarily of complicatedand bulky construction and are not easily carried about and used. Whenthese cap blocks are of sohd segments,

such segments must be inserted one ata time and then expanded. With suchblocks a considerable space is left between each segment after the wholedevice is expanded so that when blocked the cap or cap cover has anuneven I have, therefore, provided nesting nental shells in which theextremities of 'the segments when expanded are relatively close togetherand may, indeed, practically abut,- so that only a small part of thecircumference of the cap or cover is unsupported when the device isexpanded to stretch it.

An object, therefore, of this invention is to n'oride a. cap coverstretcher particularly de signed to conformwith the exterior dimensionsand contour of a uniform cap;

A further object is to provide means for stretching the parts of thedevice to a predetermined dimension, and lock the same in such position.v v I A further object is to so design the parts that they may collapseand nest togetherinto a compact whole when not in use. 7

A further object is to link together the stretching element so that theparts thereof will not become separated and lost, this link cting as aguide to associate the parts when being nested, to expand the parts whenin and drying to shape articles re' quiring such treatment, and isparticularly de-.

use, and lock the same in either expanded or nested position. V

WVith the above; and other ohjectsin view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it oeing understood that changes in the preciembodiment of the invention here in disclosed may be made within thescopeof what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View; of my device showing its applicationwithin a cap cover of the type described, the parts being shown inposit-ion to stretch and hold the cap cover;

Figure 2 is a plan viewof the device expanded; V l

Figure 8 is a plan view of the device, the link, connection being partlyfolded, and the segments, r stretcher parts, in position to be nested;

' Figure 4: is a plan viewshowing the parts A and crown extension B areshown in position upon the stretcher in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The stretcher comprises a plurality of shells or hollow segments 5-and6. These are each of thin, stiff metal and may be spun'to shape and sizeor pressed to shape between suitable. dies, and consist of a main bodyportion 7 having atone edge an inturned flange 8. Extending at an angleto the main body portion is a crown engaging portion 9, this beinginturned to form a flange 10.

Secured by pivots 11 and 12 to these inturned flanges and to extension14, carried by the body and crown portions, I provide a U-shaped link 15which extends inwardly from and within the extent of the segment 5.Links 16 and 17 are pivotedat 18 and 19 to the flange and extension 1 1-and extend within the extent of the segment 6. These extensions may beintegral with the shell-like segments.

The links 16 and 17 and the U-shaped link or bail 15, are pivotedtogether at 20 and 21, the distance between the pivot points 1112 and2021 being less than between the pivots 1819 and 2021 so that when it isdesired to collapse the stretcher the segment '5 may swing about thepivots 2021 to nestwithin the segment 6 as shown by dotted lines inFigure 5. As the object of this construction is to allow the one segmentto be rotated at the end of its link about the point 202i as a center,so that the one segmentmay nest within the other, the distance betweenthe points 11l2 and 20, and the points 18l9 and 20, may be made equal,and the pivot points 18 19 be positioned in a somewhat broader flange 8and more extended support 1%, not shown.

The height of the segment. 6 is greater than the height oi the segment 5at their respective exterior portions, the height of the segment 5increasing somewhat toward its extremities andthe height of the segment6 decreasing somewhat towards its extremities. 'llh'e segment 6 isadapt-ed to :i orm the cap cover to the ssh ape oi. the front oi? auniform cap and the segment 5 is similarly adapted to tom the cap coverto the shape of the hat-k ot a uniform cap. The s gments areeccentrically fixed.

The link 16 is notched at 22 to aoonmiodate the pin 23 on the bail 15.This pin and notch act as stop to position the links in their extendedposition, in which position the segments 5 and 6 are extended to fullystretch the cap cover in its elements A and 13 described. G'ther means,not shown, may be rovided in lieu of the pin and slot, as for instance asnap or catch between the members; or a depression in one link to eoactwith a nipple in the other link.

T he link toggle illustrated may be broken as shown in Fig. 3 and thesegme its rotated about the pivots 2021 etc, to the position shown inFig. 4. In this position a move ment of the link in the direction of thearrow shown in Fig. 4 will nest the links within the extent oi thepreviously nested segments. In this position the segments aresubstantially locked against relative movement until the links are swungback to a position radial. with regard to the two nested segments.

While in the toregoing'l have described specific structure and havementioned only certain modifications, it will be appreciated that inpractice I do not limit myself to such specific details as herein setforth, but may resort to any practical modifications falling within thescope of the ciaiins.

i i hat I claim is: I 1 1. it stretcher for bats (temp-rising sesments,one segment being smaller than the other segment, pivined linksconnecting the segments, the dixance between the pivots oi. one linkbeing less than on the other, the links being ifohlabie in the phineotthe segments.

2. A stl richer for uniform cap covers conirisin segments, one segmentbeing smaller than the other segment, links pivoted between thesegments. and pivots between the free ends of the links and thesegments, the distance between. the pivots oi one link bein less than onthe other, whereby the links may be rotated to fold within the segmentsand the segments may be nested one within the other.

3. A stretcher tor hats comprising two segments, one of the segmentsbeing smaller than the other segment to permit of its nesting within theother segment, and pivoted connecting links therebetween. the distancebetween the pivots of one link being less than on the other.

In testimony whereof I afiix my ROBERT H. LAKE.

signature.

